This article was co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH. Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
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Removing yellowing from appliances can be a pain, but there are several ideas that you can try. Clean appliances weekly with an all-purpose cleaner with bleach, a magic eraser pad, or baking soda. For severe yellowing, apply a cream peroxide to appliances and put them in direct sunlight for 3 to 4 hours to reverse the discoloration.
Steps
Doing a Basic Cleaning
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1Wipe down appliances with an all-purpose cleaner. To clean white appliances, use an all-purpose cleaning spray that contains bleach, which will disinfect surfaces and whiten stains. Spray the product onto a clean cloth or sponge and wipe down the surface thoroughly. Rinse with a clean wet cloth.[1]
- Before buying, read the product label to make sure that it is safe for use on appliances.
- Maintain white surfaces by doing a basic cleaning every week.
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2Use a magic eraser pad. Purchase a magic eraser pad to remove stains on your yellowed appliances and whiten them. Simply wet the sponge and wipe down the surface of the appliance thoroughly. There is no need to rinse afterwards![2]
- Magic eraser pads are safe for use on most surfaces, other than those with delicate or glossy finishes.[3]
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3Clean surfaces with baking soda. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto a damp, clean cloth and wipe down the surface of your yellowed appliance. For hard to reach parts or corners, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub things clean. To rinse, wipe with a clean, wet cloth.
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4Use a bleach and baking soda solution. Combine 32 fluid ounces (950 mL) of warm water, 4 fluid ounces (120 mL) of bleach and 2 fluid ounces (59 mL) of baking soda in a bucket. With gloved hands, dip a clean sponge in the liquid, wring it out, and wipe down the surface of your appliance. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe the appliance once more with a clean, wet sponge.[4]
- You may need to repeat the process a couple of times for best results. Make sure to wait the full 10 minutes each time.
Using Cream Peroxide on Small Plastic Appliances
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1Purchase a bottle of cream peroxide. Look for a bottle of cream peroxide at hair supply stores. Cream peroxide ranges in concentration from 9 to 12%, making it more effective than hydrogen peroxide at 3%. This ingredient is used to bleach and color hair in salons and may also be found in permanent hair dye kits (sold in pharmacies and department stores).[5]
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2Coat the appliance evenly with cream peroxide. Put on gloves to protect your skin. Cover any emblems or stickers on the appliance with scotch tape to protect them. Use a toothbrush or paint brush to apply the cream peroxide to the surface of the appliance.[6]
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3Seal the item and place it outside in the sun. Place the item in a large Ziplock bag or clear garbage bag and seal it tightly. The cream peroxide should not be allowed to dry during this process, so make sure that there are no tears or holes in the bag. Place the item outside in direct sunlight.[7]
- This method of whitening is ideal for small to medium sized appliances, that can easily be covered and moved outdoors.
- Check weather reports to make sure that it will be sunny for several hours before starting the process.
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4Let the item sit outside. Allow the appliance to sit outside for 3 to 4 hours in the sun. Rotate the item every hour so that all parts of it get equal sunlight. Exposure to UV light will prompt a reaction with the cream peroxide, reversing the yellowing effect on the appliance.[8]
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5Remove and rinse the item. Remove the item from the bag. Using a wet cloth, wipe off all the cream bleach from the surface. Allow the item to dry for several hours before using it.[9]
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you clean yellowed appliances?
Michelle Driscoll, MPHMichelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Founder, Mulberry MaidsA simple way to clean the yellowed surface is with an all-purpose cleaner that contains bleach. You can also wipe the area with a magic eraser, or for a more intensive cleaning, use a mixture of baking soda (1/4 cup), warm water (4 cups), and bleach (1/2 cup). When using bleach, make sure to wear gloves. Wipe down the surface with the solution, then wipe the area clean with a fresh rag or cloth. Repeat this as needed.
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QuestionHow do you whiten yellowed plastic?Michelle Driscoll, MPHMichelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Founder, Mulberry MaidsFor plastic, you can try to use cream peroxide which is more powerful than hydrogen peroxide. Apply the cream peroxide to the plastic with a paintbrush or toothbrush, using gloves to protect your skin. Then, put the plastic in a sealed bag and place it in direct sunlight outdoors, rotating it for even sun exposure. Leave it out for up to 4 hours, then rinse and wipe it down thoroughly with a clean rag and water and let it fully dry.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionHow do you remove yellow from clear silicone?Michelle Driscoll, MPHMichelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Founder, Mulberry MaidsYou can start off by scrubbing the silicone with a brush dipped in soapy water, then dry it with a towel. Follow this by using bleach—spray the silicone with bleach and let it sit for 20 minutes. Wearing rubber gloves, scrub the silicone again with a brush, then rinse the area and dry with a clean rag or towel.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
Things You'll Need
- A clean cloth or sponge
- All-purpose cleaning spray with bleach
- Magic eraser pads
- Baking soda
- Cream peroxide
- Gloves
- Ziploc bag or clear garbage bag
References
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/well/guides/how-to-clean
- ↑ http://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=17447
- ↑ https://www.wired.com/2015/09/whats-inside-mr-clean-magic-eraser/
- ↑ https://www.hunker.com/12000606/how-to-get-white-plastic-on-kitchen-appliances-white-again-after-turning-yellow-with-age
- ↑ http://www.retrofixes.com/2013/10/how-to-clean-whiten-yellowed-plastics.html
- ↑ http://www.retrofixes.com/2013/10/how-to-clean-whiten-yellowed-plastics.html
- ↑ http://www.retrofixes.com/2013/10/how-to-clean-whiten-yellowed-plastics.html
- ↑ http://www.retrofixes.com/2013/10/how-to-clean-whiten-yellowed-plastics.html
- ↑ http://www.retrofixes.com/2013/10/how-to-clean-whiten-yellowed-plastics.html
About This Article
If you want to remove yellowing from white appliances, you can clean them weekly with some basic household products. For a simple and natural solution, try sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda on a damp cloth and wiping down your appliance. Then, wipe it down again with a clean, wet cloth. You can also make your own cleaning solution by combining warm water, bleach, and baking soda in a bucket. With gloved hands, dip a clean sponge in the solution, wring it out, and clean your stained appliances. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes before wiping the appliance down again with a wet sponge. Another way to remove yellowing from your white appliances is to use an all-purpose cleaning spray with bleach. You can also try using a magic eraser pad by wetting the sponge and wiping down the appliance thoroughly. To learn how to clean small plastic appliances with cream peroxide, keep reading!
